CODESA Declaration of Intent

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Country/entity: South Africa
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: CODESA Declaration of Intent
Date: 21 Dec 1991
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Post Apartheid South Africa and Namibian Independence (1990 - 1994)
South Africa – internal. The roots of the modern South African conflict are found in the British and Dutch colonization of Southern Africa, which resulted in the introduction of a white minority who soon held power in the region. The South African state emerged following a hard-fought pact between the British government and the white Afrikaner minority. ‘Apartheid’ – the Afrikaans word for separateness – became official government policy after 1948. Resistance to this system was widespread and took diverse forms. In 1912, the African National Congress (ANC) was formed to push for reforms in the country. After the 1960 Sharpeville massacre several organisations around the ANC took up arms and began to fight the Apartheid government using violent means. During the 1980s, President P.W. Botha introduced a reform policy that enabled the post-1990 peace agreements, which paved the way for the end of the apartheid system.

South Africa- Namibia. One set of agreements relates to the independence of Namibia which followed from the end of apartheid.
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: South Africa peace process
Parties: SAG, CODESA (Democratic Party, Dikwankwetla Party, Inkatha Freedom Party, ANC, Bophuthatswana Govt, Inyandza National Movement, Intando Yesizwe Party, Labour Party of SA, Natal/Tvl Indian Congress, National Party, National People's Party, Solidarity, SA Communist Party, Transkei Govt, United People's Front, Venda Govt, Ximoko Progressive Party)
Third parties: -
Description: This short agreement outlines agreed principles for a future constitution as a result of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa. It provides for present and future participants to put forward democratic proposals, and that the Convention will establish a mechanism for co-operation of parties with administrations and the South African Government.

Agreement document: ZA_911229_CodesaDeclarationIntent.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Main category: Page 1, PREAMBLE
... to bring about an undivided South Africa with one nation sharing a common citizenship, patriotism and loyalty, pursuing amidst our diversity, freedom, equality and security for all irrespective of race, colour, sex or creed; a country free from apartheid or any other form of discrimination or domination;

Page 1, PREAMBLE
... to set in motion the process of drawing up and establishing a constitution that will ensure, inter alia:
• that South Africa will be a united, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist state in which sovereign authority is exercised over the whole of its territory;

Women, girls and gender

Participation: No specific mention.
Equality: Equality→Equality (general)
Page 1, PREAMBLE
[Declaring a solemn commitment to] establishing a constitution that will ensure, inter alia:
• that South Africa will be a united, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist state in which sovereign authority is exercised over the whole of its territory;
Particular groups of women: No specific mention.
International law: No specific mention.
New institutions: No specific mention.
Violence against women: No specific mention.
Transitional justice: No specific mention.
Institutional reform: No specific mention.
Development: No specific mention.
Implementation: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

CODESA Declaration of Intent

20 December 1991

We, the duly authorised representatives of political parties, political organizations, administrations and the South African Government, coming together at this first meeting of the Convention for a Democratic South Africa, mindful of the awesome responsibility that rests on us at this moment in the history of our country, declare our solemn commitment:

to bring about an undivided South Africa with one nation sharing a common citizenship, patriotism and loyalty, pursuing amidst our diversity, freedom, equality and security for all irrespective of race, colour, sex or creed;

a country free from apartheid or any other form of discrimination or domination;

to work to heal the divisions of the past, to secure the advancement of all, and to establish a free and open society based on democratic values where the dignity, worth and rights of every South African are protected by law;

to strive to improve the quality of life of our people through policies that will promote economic growth and human development and ensure equal opportunities and social justice for all South Africans;

to create a climate conducive to peaceful constitutional change by eliminating violence, intimidation and destabilization and by promoting free political participation, discussion and debate;

to set in motion the process of drawing up and establishing a constitution that will ensure, inter alia:

that South Africa will be a united, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist state in which sovereign authority is exercised over the whole of its territory;

that the Constitution will be the supreme law and that it will be guarded over by an independent, non-racial and impartial judiciary;

that there will be a multi-party democracy with the right to form and join political parties and with regular elections on the basis of universal adult suffrage on a common voters roll;

in general the basic electoral system shall be that of proportional representation;

that there shall be a separation of powers between the legislature, executive and judiciary with appropriate checks and balances;

that the diversity of languages, cultures and religions of the people of South Africa shall be acknowledged;

that all shall enjoy universally accepted human rights, freedoms and civil liberties including freedom of religion, speech and assembly protected by an entrenched and justiciable Bill of Rights and a legal system that guarantees

We agree:

that the present and future participants shall be entitled to put forward freely to the Convention any proposal consistent with democracy.

that CODESA will establish a mechanism whose task it will be, inco-operation with administrations and the South African Government, to draft the texts of all legislation required to give effect to the agreements reached in CODESA.

We, the representatives of political parties, political organizations and administrations, further solemnly commit ourselves to be bound by the agreements of CODESA and in good faith to take all such steps as are within our power and authority to realise their implementation.

Signed by

Ciskei Government

Democratic Party

Dikwankwetla Party

Inkatha Freedom Party

African National Congress

Bophuthatswana Government

Inyandza National Movement

Intando Yesizwe Party

Labour Party of South Africa

Natal/Tvl Indian Congress

National Party

National People's Party

Solidarity

South African Communist Party

Transkei Government

United People's FrontVenda Government

Ximoko Progressive Party

We, the South African Government, declare ourselves to be bound by agreements we reach together with other participants in CODESA in accordance with the standing rules and hereby commit ourselves to the Implementation thereof within our capacity, powers and authority.

Signed by South African Government'

Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika.

Ons vir jou Suid Afrika.

Morena boloka sechaba sa heso.

May the Lord bless our country.

Mudzimu Fhatutshedza Afrika.

Hosi katekisa Afrika.